According to data released by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), the 22nd and 23rd of August were, respectively, the fifth and sixth hottest of the last 15 years in mainland Portugal, with average values of temperature of 28.76°C and 29.35°C.

“The 22nd and 23rd of August 2023 also had the 5th and 10th highest average maximum temperature, and the 8th and 11th highest average minimum temperature, respectively”.

On the 22nd, 20 stations surpassed the previous highest maximum temperature values for the month of August: Pinhão (45.6°C), Tomar/Vale Donas (45.4°C), Lousã (45.2°C C), Mirandela (43.8°C), Cabeceiras de Basto (43.5°C), Ansião (43.4°C), Nelas (42.8°C), Moimenta da Beira (42.5°C ), Chaves/Aérodromo (42.4°C), Macedo Cavaleiros (41.5°C), Viseu/Aérodromo (41.1°C), Vila Real/Aérodromo (40.8°C), Miranda do Douro (40.8°C), Carrazeda (40.7°C), Bragança (40.6°C), Trancoso/Bandarra (40.1°C), Mogadouro (40°C), Vinhais (39.9°C ), Luzim (39.8°C) and Montalegre (37.5°C).

In seven of these stations – Tomar/Vale Donas, Cabeceiras de Basto, Nelas, Viseu/Aérodromo, Trancoso/Bragança, Luzim and Montalegre – “the previous absolute extremes were exceeded”.

In Guarda, on the 22nd, the value of 25.9°C of minimum temperature, surpassed the previous extreme for the month of August.

On the 23rd, the maximum temperatures for the month of August were exceeded in four stations: Viseu CC (26.9°C), Vila Real CC (25.6°C), Vinhais (25.5°C) and Lamas de Mouro (19.7°C).

Among the highest values of maximum temperature, on August 22nd, Alvega (Abrantes, Santarém) and Pinhão (Alijó, Vila Real), stood out with 45.6°C, while on the 23rd, Alvega reached 45.0°C and Pinhão 44.8° W.

On the 22nd, 50% of the territory recorded maximum air temperature values equal to or greater than 40°C and 15% of the territory had temperatures above 42°C, detailed the IPMA.

Maximum air temperature values equal to or greater than 35°C occurred in about 80% of the territory, while temperatures equal to or greater than 30°C occurred “in practically the entire territory”, with the exception of Cabo Carvoeiro, S. Pedro Muel, Santa Cruz, Cabo da Roca and Cabo Raso.

The following day, 40% of the territory recorded maximum air temperature values equal to or greater than 40°C, with temperatures above 42°C being recorded in 6% of the territory.